I will be honest… I didn’t feel like writing this weekly segment today… It was a combination of having a super busy day & not really feeling entirely positive & feeling like I didn’t have much to share. But, my fabulous sister Mimi ( La Mimi ) gave me that extra push to write regardless of anything.
So….
This Week’s Hits are:
- Naturally, Mimi gets this week’s hit! For being supportive, inspiring & encouraging me to be the best me I can be. I hope you have a ‘Mimi’ in your life, who can do the same for you. It’s so important to have those people in your life that you know you can lean on when you are not feeling your strongest. It’s in these (brief) moments of weakness that you need someone to push you, just a little bit, to get back on track. And I’m super grateful to have my baby sister & to know that we’re always there for each other. I love you, Mimi! =)
- Fresh Flowers. I love them! There is nothing that livens up a room better than a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. I love to have a fresh bouquet in my bedroom… They make me happy… I think tomorrow, I’m going to get myself one to cheer me up =)
Just look at these stunning God’s creations… How can you not feel happy looking at them?
http://www.flowercreations.ca
This Week’s Misses are:
- The lack of modern day gentleman in North America. Now, nobody get upset or mad at me for what I’m about to say, please. This is just my opinion, based on my personal experience and the experience of my girlfriends. This weekend I went to two very different parties, 2 days in a row. One was for one of my Russian girlfriend’s birthday & the 2nd one was a Twestival Boat Cruise party. It was so interesting to witness the difference in dynamics & the overall atmosphere between the two parties.
- http://z.about.com
Let me explain. There is something to be said about men that were born & raised in any of the former USSR countries & the Middle East. Most men from those regions know exactly how to act like a gentleman, how to treat a lady with respect, care & consideration. They open doors, bring flowers, move the chair for you to sit at a table, fill up your glass when it’s empty, always pick up the check (don’t even think about getting your wallet out, that is an insult to a true gentleman), get out of the car to walk with you to the door & much more! You see, I was born & raised in a completely different environment, and that is one aspect that I definitely miss, and feel that is missing here in North America.
Now of course, not everybody is the same, and I’m not trying to generalize or stereotype here. But it’s true – there is a huge difference in mentality when it comes to men born & raised in North America or men born & raised in Europe.
Unfortunately, I think the number of true gentlemen in North America is so rare that I have yet to meet one!… It is a very sad fact, but a true one at that…
I think maybe I should open up an academy of some sort and guide men on how to be MEN / Gentlemen & how to treat a woman properly…
There is a thought…
Maybe I will do that… One day.
P.S. If you were still guessing, I enjoyed the Russian Party a lot more, being surrounded by young, but very sweet gentlemen, as opposed to men who are too shy, stuck up, scared or insecure to approach you that were at the boat cruise party… I’m just saying…
I’m glad that we still have gentlemen in Azerbaijan
)
Leyla, amazing post!!! I wonder whose party it was that u enjoyed..:) Lighten up and smile!:)
Hey Lelka,
Thank you so much for saying all those beautiful things about me…I’m really flattered and the best present is that you actually posted the weekly hits and misses…
You might not know it but you are also a very inspirational woman- the cooking, the working out, the compassion and generosity towards others- those are only some things to describe your qualities…
In terms of men…send them my way…I offer dating etiquette workshops…hehe
xoxo
Mimi
Hey Leyla…
I have to agree with you regarding gentlemen. It’s quite sad actually. I too grew up in a European family, and appreciate a true gentleman. Yes, they are VERY hard to find…I’m still looking!!!
I think there is something that has been lost over the years, and here in North America. Why are men so shy/insecure/stuck up/scared. It’s frustrating…do they expect us to make the first move??
Bless
e
Thanks Mimka… You made me blush with those sweet words of praise of yours. Muah! I love you!
And yes, Eleni… I completely share your frustrations on this whole disappearing species of men being men = gentlemen…
I’m sure you & I will meet our true gentlemen when the time is right! =)
I am so glad your sister was able to swayed you to write after all. I truly enjoy your blog page… so much useful information and ideas… Please continue to write and post… BTW… the picture of your sister is WONDERFUL… such a beautiful woman (apparently inside and out). Thank you again for taking time to find the positive even though you didn’t think you had any in you at the moment…
Leyla, thank you for your generosity in sharing! It takes a lot of courage to share “misses”. Your note about men brought a smile to my face! Women do get upset about men not being a gentleman but unfortunately that is the side effect of feminism in North America. It is actually a lot worse in the States; I lived there for 9 years. Any flattering remark could be interpreted as sexual harassment, opening the door for someone could mean she is too weak, etc. A friend of mine has a funny story about his first few days of moving to Canada, some 30 years ago (he is now in his fifties). He saw this older lady struggling with taking her grocery to her car. He went to her to offer help. She slapped him and screamed “do you think I can’t take care of myself because I am a woman?” Do you think he offered any woman he didn’t know any help from that point on?!
Thank you Firoozeh for your kind words of encouragement! =) You’re right, it isn’t easy to share the “misses”, but I figure I have nothing to hide from anybody, and in fact I think people respect and relate better to somebody who is real and doesn’t pretend to be perfect. So thank you for recognizing that.
And wow, yes that story you shared proves why men here aren’t acting like man… So sad!
Ladies, we need to start changing things… Talk about this with all of your guy friends, lets make them aware of what happened, and what needs to happen! =) One man at a time! lol
I would have to agree with you Leyla on the fact that men here and in former USSR are different. I think that sometimes it has to do with how that person was brought up and raised and family traditions, and maybe even sometimes the fact that he didnt have a good role model. I ve met some russ. guys who werent “gentlemen-ny” to the point that I had to pay for my own coffee..lol
I am very lucky to have found someone who is to me what is Mimi to you and who also knows how to treat a girl
Great post and thanks for sharing
P.S. I liked Mimi’s comment: “In terms of men…send them my way…I offer dating etiquette workshops” lol
I am happy that someone else shares my enthusiam on men in North America..I do trully miss that as well..on a daily basis..when men push u to get in the door first or dont hold a door for u when they get out men that dont give u a sit on TTC men that caught u off while u drive and show u middle finger the list goes on.I wish there was a workshop that would fix them up a little…
I happen to be with a man who was born and raised in Russia so thankfully i don’t deal with that negativity in the relationship